Filter elements and a filter device having at least one filter element

Abstract

The invention is directed to filter elements ( 1 ) made of a material which is permeable to permeate and which has a quantity of longitudinal channels ( 3 ) and a cross section that is a segment of a virtual rotationally symmetrical or mirror-symmetrical surface ( 4 ). The filter elements ( 1 ) can be joined to form a filter element composite ( 10 ). The filter elements ( 1 ) or the filter element composite ( 10 ) can be used in a filter device ( 11 ) for cleaning or separating a medium ( 7 ). Seals of the filter element composite ( 10 ) and/or filter device ( 11 ) can be formed by a potting layer ( 16 ), by individual seals ( 15 ) having a shape deviating from the shape of an O-ring, or by seal elements ( 17 ) with crosspieces ( 17.1 ) and apertures ( 17.2 ).

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A filter element, wherein the filter element is made of a material which is permeable to permeate, comprises a plurality of longitudinal channels, and has a cross section that is a segment of a virtual rotationally symmetrical or mirror-symmetrical surface. 
     
     
         15 . The filter element of  claim 14 , wherein the filter element comprises, at least along a longitudinal portion thereof, material zones between the longitudinal channels, which material zones extend from an outer wall of the filter element some distance into the filter element, are not penetrated by longitudinal channels, and comprise a slit, no longitudinal channels being breached by the slit. 
     
     
         16 . A filter element composite, wherein the filter element composite comprises a plurality of filter elements and wherein
 cross sections of the plurality of filter elements are mutually complementing segments of a rotationally symmetrical surface or a mirror-symmetrical surface,   the filter elements are joined to one another, a space being present between the filter elements as permeate outlets for conducting medium exiting from the filter elements as permeate, and   a cross section of the filter element composite is the rotationally symmetrical surface or the mirror-symmetrical surface.   
     
     
         17 . The filter element composite of  claim 16 , wherein the filter elements are joined ceramically or by a potting compound. 
     
     
         18 . The filter element composite of  claim 16 , wherein the filter element composite further comprises a central filter element that is surrounded by the plurality of filter elements, a cross section of the central filter element deviating from a shape of cross sections of the surrounding filter elements. 
     
     
         19 . A filter device for cleaning or separating a medium, wherein the filter device comprises filter elements according to  claim 14 , and wherein
 the filter device further comprises a filter housing having an input opening for the medium to flow into the filter housing and at least one output opening for the medium to flow out,   the filter device comprises at least two filter elements comprising a plurality of longitudinal channels, the filter elements being arranged so as to extend from the input opening into the filter housing, and an end side of the filter elements staying open in each instance for the medium to flow into the longitudinal channels of the filter elements,   the filter elements are sealed by a seal at least at the input opening, and the filter elements are sealed relative to one another and relative to the filter housing and are kept at a distance from one another by the seal, and   permeate outlets are formed by spaces between the filter elements and relative to the filter housing for conducting the medium exiting from the filter elements as permeate in direction of the at least one output opening.   
     
     
         20 . The filter device of  claim 19 , wherein cross sections of the filter elements are mutually complementing segments of a rotationally symmetrical surface or a mirror-symmetrical surface. 
     
     
         21 . A filter device for cleaning or separating a medium, wherein the filter device comprises a filter element composite according to  claim 16 , and wherein
 the filter device further comprises a filter housing comprising an input opening for the medium to flow into the filter housing and at least one output opening for the medium to flow out,   the filter element composite is sealed by a seal at least at the input opening and the filter elements of the filter element composite are sealed relative to one another and relative to the filter housing and are kept at a distance from one another by the seal, and   permeate outlets are formed by spaces between the filter elements and relative to the filter housing for conducting the medium exiting from the filter elements as permeate in direction of the at least one output opening.   
     
     
         22 . The filter device of  claim 19 , wherein the seal is a potting layer made of a sealing material. 
     
     
         23 . The filter device of  claim 21 , wherein the seal is a potting layer made of a sealing material. 
     
     
         24 . A seal for the filter device of  claim 19 , wherein the seal is an individual seal comprising, in uninstalled condition, a shape of a cross section of that segment for which the individual seal is provided. 
     
     
         25 . The seal of  claim 24 , wherein the seal is made of mixtures or a composite of a plurality of plastics or of a composite material. 
     
     
         26 . The seal of  claim 25 , wherein the seal comprises metal supporting elements. 
     
     
         27 . The filter device of  claim 19 , wherein the seal is an individual seal comprising, in uninstalled condition, a shape of a cross section of that segment for which the individual seal is provided. 
     
     
         28 . The filter device of  claim 21 , wherein the seal is an individual seal comprising, in uninstalled condition, a shape of a cross section of that segment for which the individual seal is provided. 
     
     
         29 . A seal for the filter device of  claim 19 , wherein the seal is a seal element which is a disk-shaped element comprising crosspieces and apertures, where the shape and size of the apertures allow filter elements to be inserted into the apertures in a frictionally engaging manner. 
     
     
         30 . The seal of  claim 29 , wherein the seal is made of mixtures or a composite of a plurality of plastics or of a composite material. 
     
     
         31 . The seal of  claim 30 , wherein the seal comprises metal supporting elements. 
     
     
         32 . The filter device of  claim 19 , wherein the seal is a seal element which is a disk-shaped element comprising crosspieces and apertures, where the shape and size of the apertures allow filter elements to be inserted into the apertures in a frictionally engaging manner. 
     
     
         33 . The filter device of  claim 21 , wherein the seal is a seal element which is a disk-shaped element comprising crosspieces and apertures, where the shape and size of the apertures allow filter elements to be inserted into the apertures in a frictionally engaging manner.